(CNN) - Florida Republican Senate hopeful Marco Rubio, one of the top attractions at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, told CNN's Candy Crowley Thursday the Republican Party should embrace members of the Tea Party movement.

"We hope the Republican Party is the home of that movement and that's what we are working toward making sure that it is," he said. "When Republicans are about limited government, Republicans are successful. When they are about anything else, Republicans are not."

Rubio's comments come two days after former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin advised members of the conservative grassroots movement not to field independent candidates and, instead, to decide which party they intend to support.

soundoff(39 Responses)

Hard to imagine that they "belong" anywhere else. Birds of a feather, etc. 🙂

February 18, 2010 02:04 pm at 2:04 pm |

Who said the Mayans were wrong?

I hope this teabagger cant fly a plane.He hates taxes too.

February 18, 2010 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

The Tea Partiers are republicans already. They're not fooling anyone.

February 18, 2010 02:08 pm at 2:08 pm |

The Other Michael in Houston

Can someone name me one Tea Partier that actually voted for Obama, let along voted Democrat?

February 18, 2010 02:09 pm at 2:09 pm |

Michael from Ventura

So why is he running against ANOTHER republican if they're the party that believes the way he does? These guys would be comical if they weren't so hateful.

February 18, 2010 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

Edwin

So... if Republicans focus on limited government (as opposed to, say, Bush's choices), then will they stop campaigning against things like an Amendment against Gay Marriage? Because that clearly increases the scope of the federal government's influence.

But I am not surprised so many GOP leaders are actively trying to woo the Tea Party crowd. Without those voters, they will lose many seats. The GOP will say exactly what it thinks the Tea Party wants to hear, but I suspect that after the election Republicans will continue to do exactly what they have been doing for so long.

The question is: will the Tea Party let itself become absorbed into mainstream GOP, or will it force the GOP to reshape itself to conform to the Tea Party's image?

February 18, 2010 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |

Doug,lib jersey

Its time for the Republican party to return to its roots as a conservative party.

Republicans knew that the libs were going to destroy our economy by forcing banks to give loans to people who never intended on honoring their agreements. We must not be scared when libs call us names like racists and rednecks, Democrats will always unleash lie ridden attacks against good hearted honest people, it always will be their nature as socialists are pure evil.

I never thought I would say this but......I hope John McCain beat this guy

February 18, 2010 02:22 pm at 2:22 pm |

Bob in Pa

Really ? The majority in office have yet to prove worthy of my trust.

February 18, 2010 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

Kathleen

Teapartiers, did ya think that, just maybe, they are using you!!!!
Once you vote, you'll be treated like "Joe, the Plummer! And do
ya think Sarah Palin cares about you?

You might be white, educated and think you "know" these guys
but YOU DON'T. Just Plain and simple, "you don't know them!
Ya betcha!

February 18, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

Jesse of Atlanta

With a last name like RUBIO he make want to take a real close look the TEA People he's looking to form an alliance with...... SHAME, SHAME, SHAME......

February 18, 2010 02:36 pm at 2:36 pm |

Jim

"We hope the Republican Party is the home of that movement and that's what we are working toward making sure that it is"

I'll bet. The polls showing who's in the Tea Party movement have been plainly clear: the Tea Party is almost entirely composed of Republicans. If the Tea Party runs it own candidates, the Republicans will take it on the chin and Democrats won't feel a thing.

I find this all amusing because of Tea Party claims of independence and taking back Washington for the people. The Republican party bosses are fine with that, as long as its done with the confines of the two-party system and Washington under *their* control.

February 18, 2010 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |

james Miller

Famous quote – " What are you going to believe ? What I tell you OR your lying eyes??? "

February 18, 2010 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Ben in Texas

Quit lying, Rubio. We all know that the tea baggers are a product of the Repugnant Party. They comprise the furthest right wing of your base. Don't try to sell us the notion that they are somehow a grassroots organization instead of the Fox/Armey creation that they are. They are merely a way for you to push the center of American politics further to the right than it has already been distorted.

February 18, 2010 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

Jay

Yes, without the obstructionist, tea-bagging lily-white racists, sexists, homophobic fundamental Christian and conspiracy-minded fascist wingnuts in the fold, the Republicans look almost like - dare I say it - real people! And, we certainly can't have that!

February 18, 2010 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

Zac, ATL

And so the truth is out. So much for a revolution.

February 18, 2010 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

The lonely Libertarian of Liverpool NY

To my teaparty brothers and sisters, who started the tea parties?
Yuppers is was Libertarain Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty that started this movement back in 2007.
Please do not let the GOP lie to you again. They will not do what you think, the GOP and the Conservatives do NOT stand for smaller Government, they do not stand for a return of the Constitution, they do not stand for indiviual Liberty.
Please do not be fooled again, don't let their big fat wallets distract you from the true mission that we have started out on.

February 18, 2010 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

EMJ

Take advice from Sarah Palin? You betcha – not!

February 18, 2010 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

Lindsey Baccus

One of these persons by themselves is tolerable, but collectively they are radically dangerous to the progress of this nation. Their mindset is so "not impressive". It's the same rhetoric we heard during the 8 years of the Bush administration and look what it got us. Things they really excell in is misinformation and deception.

February 18, 2010 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |

RTB

What kind of idiotic statement is that?
"Should embrace the Republican Party"?

The "Tea Party" have always been republicans.

Limited Government is what caused the Financial melt down in the first place along with a host of other Republican Party policies.

February 18, 2010 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

JON

bla bla bla talking points smaller government tell us all what would you cut and where is the money going to come to replace the 8 trillion debt that the repubs created from 2001 to 2009 . please tell us all your big plan. and lets not use tax cuts we all know that won't work.

February 18, 2010 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |

Henry Miller, Libertarian

"GOP should be home to Tea Partiers

Yes, it should be, but it won't unless the GOP evicts the neo-cons, the bible-thumping nuts who waste taxpayer money almost as badly as the Democrats, who are almost as Big Government as Democrats, and, on top of all that, seem to think it's okay to start pointless wars and spy on American citizens.

February 18, 2010 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

Werd YO

Rubio is awesome.

Bye bye democrats!

YES WE CAN'T!

Yes we can...no wait..hey why are all of the democrats dropping out?

February 18, 2010 03:00 pm at 3:00 pm |

Brandon

Why would Rubio represent a party that calls his children and other latino children "Anker Babies"? I guess there must be a sell out in every race. The Tea Party = Jim Crow Party = GOP.